Last Monday, we discovered that, in the name of roadside maintenance, city crews had begun to decimate what had been a treasured aspect of our rural community. For at least 30 years, the lilacs that grow along the road have provided beauty, a windbreak, and a habitat for rural critters. But after a week of work and despite numerous protests and presenting alternatives to the wholesale destruction of the lilac, the avenue, which had been one of the hallmarks of Patterson Road, has been devastated. The roadside may have needed some attention but not in the irresponsible way that it has been done. Rather than trimming the lilacs back in a professional manner, city crews have left an unsightly and unkempt swath of roadside. It will encourage the growth of noxious weeds and encourage drivers to speed. This is a country road, not a city street. But that is obviously not appreciated by city officials.

The harm that has been done to the character of our road was only increased when, on Sunday, hydro crews took down another part of our natural heritage -- an osprey nest that had sat atop a hydro pylon in the middle of a hay field for at least three decades. Between March and April every year, a pair of these magnificent birds, often with juveniles, had returned to the road, to our delight. They were an indelible sign of spring and we took immense pleasure in watching them soar over the fields and raise their young.

We have chosen to live on Patterson Road in large part because it is a rural community -- one of quiet beauty and home to a variety of wildlife. We strongly object to officials imposing "solutions to problems" that either do not exist or are completely inappropriate for this area. This is only further evidence that being part of the city of Kingston can do more harm than good for us living well north of Highway 401.